Melbourne Meeting, August 31st @ 7pm
I would like to cordially invite all readers to a libertarian meeting. Also attending will be David Sharp, a lawyer practicing at the Victorian Bar in Melbourne. In 1983 he was the Founding President of the Australian Adam Smith Club and has continued to play an active role in its activities since. He is the author of Economic Simplicities and writes for economics.org.au
Day/Time: August 31 at 7pm.
Venue: The Clare, 421 Rathdowne Street, Carlton.
Cigarette plain packaging, has it worked on illicit drugs?
Today Big Prohibition is celebrating its High Court victory over ‘Big Tobacco’ on the issue of plain packaging of cigarettes. Tobacco companies had challenged the legislation to have all cigarettes sold in drab green packs without logos or company identification on the basis of denial of intellectual and other property rights.
In retrospect, this may have been a mistake as property rights are not a widely respected concept in Australia. Rural landholders have largely borne the brunt of the assault on private property until now with a myriad of laws restricting their rights to carry out activities, from building right through to weed control. A quick check with them would have let Phillip Morris know, it was flogging a dead horse on the issue. Read more »
Friedman dinner: Prof Jeff Bennett & “little green lies”
The next Brisbane Friedman dinner has been planned for Wednesday the 29th of August, where we will hear from Professor Jeff Bennett talking about his recently released book “Little Green Lies”. Please RSVP to John Humphreys, either by calling/messaging 0404 044561 or e-mailing john.humphreys99@gmail.com or by commenting on the Facebook page.
When? 7pm Wednesday 29 August
Where? Elio’s restaurant, 119 Winstanley St, Carina Heights
Who? Prof Jeff Bennett (ANU) and a few dozen other freedom fighters
Cost? $32 per person for dinner & debate
Topic? Jeff’s recent book “Little Green Lies”
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Read more »
Milton Friedman’s 100th birthday
The 31st of July will mark 100 years since the great man was born, and a few people want to celebrate. In Brisbane we will be having an ALS Friedman dinner, with Dr Alex Robson (Senior Lecturer in economics at Griffith University) and Senator George Brandis SC as a guest speaker.
When: 7pm 31 July 2012
Where: Elio’s restaurant, 119 Winstanley st, Carina Heights
Cost: $30 for dinner & fun
RSVP: e-mail john.humphreys99@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/354181217981926/
And over in Perth, the Mannkal group are putting on their own show…
CANdo Melbourne launch
CANdo isn’t a libertarian group, but they do share our preference for lower tax and economic freedoms. They are having their Melbourne launch on the 29th of June at Morgans @ 401 (401 Collins st) — including drinks, dinner and talks for $60. For more details, click the graphic below.
Catallaxy Files- Where Regulations (may) have Brought Benefits August 27, 2012A recent Catallaxy discussion on excessive phone companies’ charges, apparently universally levied, on their clients’ international roaming activities, caused me to review areas where regulation might have bestowed benefits. The IPA is currently compiling the number of extant Commonwealth regulations (oddly enough no government agency actually does th […]Alan Moran
- A pity prosperity depends on mining August 26, 2012In The Australian today (subscription required) ‘Reducing mining investment is not collateral damage from the carbon tax: it is integral to achieving its objective of shrinking the carbon intensive components of Australia’s economy. As Treasury found, because of the tax, “the (Australian) mining sector experiences a significant decline in r […]Henry Ergas
- It’s time to get over it. August 26, 2012Both the Murdoch press and Fairfax have pieces dealing with the Whitlam government dismissal. For younger readers it happened in 1975 – about 37 years ago, So it is a long and complicated story about who told what to whom when … The bottom line, to my mind, has always been that there was an [...]Sinclair Davidson
- Where Regulations (may) have Brought Benefits August 27, 2012
- inCISe
- Taxing illusions August 26, 2012One of the milestones of the tax year is upon us – the necessity of filling in a tax return and receiving back an assessment, together with a refund or a demand for more tax. It is a good time to reflect on the visibility of modern taxation and the features of the tax system that create the illusion of a smaller tax burden than the reality. The Goods and Ser […]Robert Carling
- New report: NDIS will cost $22 billion a year August 25, 2012The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will cost Australian taxpayers around $22 billion a year (gross) and $10.5 billion (net) in its first full year of operation. This figure is substantially larger than the $15 billion (gross) and $8 billion (net) currently being used by politicians and commentators in the public debate. This revision is a result […]Andrew Baker
- If it wants money, the ADF must talk to taxpayers August 22, 2012One of the recent additions to my feed reader has been The Strategist, an excellent blog by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. The blog has hosted some interesting discussions from a variety of people on the status of the 2009 Defence White Paper and the needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the current budgetary and strategic environment. W […]Simon Cowan
- Taxing illusions August 26, 2012
- IPA news
- Should there be a minimum price for alcohol? August 26, 2012Minimum prices for alcohol are a tax on the poor and won't deliver better health outcomes. Public health activists claim...
- Taxi reform may put passengers in the driver's seat August 26, 2012In the very near future, the Baillieu government in Victoria will have the opportunity to deliver a reform of national...
- Electricity users cop the renewable energy bill August 23, 2012Something is rotten in the state of Denmark", says a Shakespearean character noting how poor government had caused the...
- Should there be a minimum price for alcohol? August 26, 2012
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